~ Cook. Eat. Write

Willpower (is over-rated)…

I just finished a box of crackers that I kept proclaiming to be, not very good. Yet, as the box stared me in the face on the counter each day (not having quite made it to the bin), I reached in, for just one, to take away a small growing hunger. Once I had one cracker, inevitably, another handful ensued. These were not delicious, but I could not stop from having them, one after another as if I was willing them to taste great; subliminally they were great. Until I stopped eating them. Then they were not (great). At that point, I finally realized, for the tenth time, how mediocre they were.

This is where I proclaim never to buy cracker products again (ha). Well, I certainly won’t buy that product again… until I do; amnesia sets in at some point during trips to the market (why? I don’t know). What I do know is never say never. Although, I really do mean it at the time. Indulgence is tricky. Sometimes it is for good things and sometimes for bad. Willpower is not my strong suit since making excuses (justifications) is something I do particularly well (at least in my head).

Once when I was young, say 10 or 12, I was canoeing on the lake behind our house and consumed an entire box of Ritz crackers. I just c o u l d n o t stop. I kept telling myself it was okay to keep eating them because, now opened they would just go bad, or, more likely, get soggy. I told myself that I was skinny and these were wafer thin. I had already indulged in half the pack so I might as well finish the rest. So I did. Later I became sick.

I don’t deny myself food when I feel it is needed (whatever that need might be), but I wish I had willpower to say no to those things that I know will not agree with me later.

So, today, right here, right now, rather than give you the anti-cracker (because I don’t really know what the anti-cracker would be – thoughts?), instead, I vow never to eat a full box of crackers again (at least not mediocre ones) and I give you my top 10 listof things (better for you than crackers) that I should (and do) eat when hungry for a snack (not in any particular order).

Cottage cheese (one or two spoonfuls usually does the trick, otherwise a slice of Swiss cheese will do). What am I saying? Cheese, just cheese.Toast! With great butter and jam, or almond butter (see below).Beans of any legume variety (I am addicted to black, pinto and white beans, lentils, chickpeas, cranberry beans, or the like, and of course – hummus!). I am literally, full of beans.Leftover steak (yes, I usually have a little piece of tenderloin in our ‘fridge cooked from our “Friday steak night”). If not, roast chicken, roast pork or turkey cutlets are usually afoot. The stand-in deli meat makes an occasional appearance. Just need a little meat please (Buddy-approved statement).Avocado, scooped straight from the shell. Morning, noon or night.Granola (I usually have homemade or good-quality granola hanging about). This is a good substitute for dessert, one handful would (should) be sufficient.Nuts of any kind, but best of all are sprouted almonds or sprouted pumpkin seeds (no added salt).Almond butter, in substitute of PB (best scooped finger to mouth, Ginger-approved).Goat’s milk ice cream (with La Loo, why would you even eat cow’s milk?).Mini tacos. Don’t ask, on the “bad” list.Figs (when in season), smushed onto a crostini slathered with chèvre. Sometimes also drizzled with honey.

Ah, it’s never just one!! My answer is not to ever have just that one, I remind myself that these things are specifically designed to make you want more, it’s how they are produced, to trigger responses in your brain and remove your self discipline, so I never ever have that ‘one’ any more. Been there, done it, felt sick, hated myself – life is far better not even having one! Or having anything that has been made by anyone other than me :))

This sounds all to familiar! NikNaks in my case. Do you know them? My vice. Full of carbs, and colourants and all we should avoid but alas, when I start I cannot stop and feel horrible when I see the emprty packet.

Dontcha just hate food guilt?!? I’ve attacked my snack problem by being too lazy to shop. When I do manage to shop I like to bring home apples for afternoon snacking. If they happen to fall into the coco-peanut butter, well… my body must need the protein. I like the Friday steak night concept. Wish every night could be steak night!

Yes, I do hate food guilt! I fall into the too lazy to shop category from time to time; there is an up side. I can just picture your apple falling, with pleasure, atop an open jar of coco-peanut butter (does that actually exist)?